A COUPLE GOOD ONES.  We finish the week strong before a weekend washout hits on Saturday and things turn chilly for your two days off.  To get you ready for fall we’ve got our caterpillar prognosticator, some PLOTS highlights and what’s going on with West Nile virus in Minnesota’s ruffie population as part of our Outdoors Roundup.

Featured Photo:  GROWL. A short-middle-banded woolly bear caterpillar found on Sunday near Bismarck may indicate a rough winter ahead for the region. Simonson Photo.

 

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today:   Thu 9/5 – Warm & Wind – Hi 79, Lo 59, Wind NW@13, G23
Tomorrow:  Fri 9/6 – Pre-Drop Perfection – Hi 73, Lo 55, Wind N@8

 

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

 

Sunrise        Sunset
7:08AM        8:15PM

 

Moonrise      Moonset       Overhead    Underfoot
2:42PM         Fol. Day        7:27PM           7:00AM

 

Moon Phase:  Waxing Crescent (44% Full)

 

EDGE HOUR:   7:00-8:00PM.  With moon overhead the evening bite should be strong, especially on the windswept south shorelines in our Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

 

OUTDOORS ROUNDUP:

 

UH OH.  The woolly bear caterpillar in our daily photo sports a narrow brown band, which according to the Farmer’s Almanac is indicative of a snowy winter.  However, this meteorological myth is based soley on a single season of the insects reported about 60 years ago.  On the bright side, these bugs can survive temperatures of -90 degrees.

PLOTS UP.  The NDG&F details the expansion of PLOTS this year across the state in its weekly North Dakota Outdoors web short. The department has been focused on better quality lands for the program with more habitat for improved hunting in 2019.

WEST NILE SURVEY.  The Minnesota DNR is encouraging ruffed grouse hunters to assist with a sampling of birds as part of the upcoming season to determine the impact of west nile virus on their populations.  The sampling kits can be obtained from the agency at offices in the state’s northern grouse range.